Why dental assistants are well suited to become office managers
Dental office managers play an important leadership role in their practices, handling a variety of tasks including scheduling appointments, verifying insurance, presenting and explaining treatment plans, collecting payment, budgeting, financial reporting, recruiting, and training. Some dental office managers come from a business or customer-service background, but many have experience in the dental field. Dental assistants, for instance, can make excellent office managers; in fact, many in the profession set practice administration as a career goal.
In honor of Office Manager Appreciation Month, here are a few reasons dental assistants are qualified to become office managers.
They understand the inner workings of dental offices.
Dental assistants work with everyone in the practice, and they’re involved in nearly all aspects of day-to-day operations. Not only are dental assistants well versed in patient care, but they’re also intimately familiar with dental terminology and the overall workflow of an office — from how long certain procedures take to how long it takes to prepare exam rooms and instruments for the next appointment. This knowledge is crucial for dental assistants, since office managers are typically responsible for managing the schedule and anticipating the needs of the team.
They have experience in administrative tasks.
In addition to chairside assisting, infection control, and other clinical tasks, many dental assistants also perform administrative duties. Dental assistants often help front desk staff or office managers with a variety of responsibilities, such as answering calls, scheduling and confirming appointments, following up with patients after treatments, processing payments, submitting insurance claims, and more. Having this experience gives dental assistants a leg up in their career transition, as these are some of the key duties handled by office managers. By already knowing how to manage these tasks, dental assistants can focus on training in other aspects of practice administration, such as budgeting, financial reporting, or recruiting.
They are organized and detail-oriented.
Because they have so many responsibilities that require strong attention to detail, dental assistants must be organized. They need to know the ins and outs of infection control to ensure all protocols are followed properly in the office and every patient has a safe visit. Dental assistants are often responsible for managing inventory, which requires setting up and maintaining a system for tracking the office’s supplies and when they need to be restocked. Additionally, dental assistants must be able to work seamlessly with the doctor during procedures, knowing how they prefer to work and passing the right equipment at the right time — all the while comforting the patient to help them feel relaxed. While an office manager’s duties may be different, the job requires a similar level of attentiveness. From maintaining the schedule to creating the office’s budget and reporting on finances, being organized is critical for success in the role.
They have strong communication skills.
Dental assistants work with and know how to communicate with people from all walks of life. They work with everyone in the office in some capacity and serve as the liaisons between patients and the team. Dental assistants explain procedures to patients, answer questions, provide instructions for post-op care, and relay pertinent information to the doctor and front office. Good communication skills are imperative for office managers, as they coordinate everything that goes on in the office and need to keep the team on the same page. Office managers are also patient-facing, which means they need to be ready to provide information and answer questions about procedures, insurance, and payments.